The Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Ryabkov stated today that Moscow will not reconsider its decision to leave the New Start condition to limit the nuclear weapons it has with the United States, until the United States changes its policy in Ukraine, the Russian Interfax news agency reported.

President Vladimir Putin had announced last week that Moscow suspends its participation in the treaty, accusing the United States of trying to impose a “strategic defeat” of Russia in Ukraine. He signed yesterday Tuesday the decision on the suspension from participating in the treaty.

The Interfax news agency quoted Ryabkov as saying: “Until the United States changes its behavior, until we see signs of common sense in what it is doing with regard to Ukraine (…) we see no reason to revise or reconsider the decision to suspend our participation in New START.”

The treaty was signed in 2010 by the then presidents Dmitry Menvedev and Barack Obama in order to limit the number of strategic nuclear warheads that either side could deploy. The treaty was enhanced by a system of mutual inspections and data exchange.

The accord – the latest in a series of agreements dating back more than half a century that ended the Cold War-era arms race – is set to expire in 2026.

Military analysts say the collapse of the treaty, or failure to renegotiate it, will increase the nuclear risk at a time when the standoff over the conflict in Ukraine intensifies.

Ryabkov said the two countries continue to discuss issues surrounding the treaty through “closed channels,” Interfax reported.

Ryabkov also said, according to Interfax, that Russia is willing to communicate and exchange information with Washington on New START as needed, but sees no need for a regular dialogue at this time.